Competitive Research Program

Oceans, rivers, coastal features, and the species that inhabit them do not limit themselves to the political boundaries of cities, states or their elected officials or career resource managers. Management of these resources therefore benefits from scientific study at a regional scale. Managers use NCCOS data, tools, and predictive models to evaluate alternative management strategies with emphasis on regional scale ecosystem processes that support ecosystem-based management. The public and/or key stakeholder groups must also be engaged in understanding and accepting the regional ecosystem science that underlies the management options and decisions if they are to give the support needed for difficult and fiscally challenging management decisions. Regional governance bodies value the broader ecosystem science approach NCCOS provides, as their management issues remain complex, crossing scientific disciplines as well as geopolitical borders.